Viewpoint: 3 ways to drive innovation among employees, customers, community

As innovation continues to be a primary focus for nearly every organization and industry, the most successful will be those who innovate across every aspect of their businesses: in the customer experience, the employee experience and their communities.

In an article for Hawaii Business, Tarik Sultan, co-founder of Honolulu-based startup catalyst Sultan Ventures and the XLR8UH accelerator program, how several local businesses have benefited from doing just that: not only revamping their consumer offerings, but also fostering internal innovation and supporting entrepreneurship in their greater communities.

Here, according to Mr. Sultan, are three tips for driving this kind of widespread innovation:

1. Identify specific problems: Begin by pinpointing the exact problem to be addressed, no matter how seemingly tiny. Be as precise as possible and keep in mind that even problems that start small can turn into major obstacles.

2. Create a "fail fast" environment: Do not be afraid to make a mistake or fail completely. "The best leaders know that every misstep has a lesson, so they encourage learning along the way," Mr. Sultan wrote.

3. Carve out time for new ideas: Even the most established companies can benefit from taking on the mindset of a startup, taking time to brainstorm and research new innovations, then pitching them to leadership as a fledgling company would to a potential investor.